FOCUS!
The Historical Focus of the Season of Lent
For well over 1700 years Christians across the world have celebrated the season that we are in the middle of right now: the season of Lent. Our English word “lent” doesn’t mean anything special - it comes from a word that refers to the “lengthening” of days - but the focus of Lent has always been something special. From very early on, even before the Council of Nicaea met in 325 AD, believers regularly took part in a 40 day fast each year that lead up to the festival of Easter. The Sundays during this time period weren’t counted in the 40 days because each Sunday was supposed to be a “little Easter,” and so 40 days before Easter fell on what we now call “Ash Wednesday.” Now the believers back then wouldn’t completely deprive themselves of food during that time, of course, but their meals and their gatherings were simplified; and their worship took on a somber tone as well because their focus was on the sufferings and death of their Savior in comparison to the sinfulness of mankind. It was a solemn time of year, a quiet preparation for the great resurrection celebration to come after those 40 days were over.
Even during the time of the Reformation of the 1500s, when worship life was reconstructed for the common people and the harmful traditions and ceremonies that had crept into the church were thrown out, the season of Lent was still retained because the believers of that time thought it very important that the gospel stories about the sufferings and death of Christ as well as the hymns that were written about them and the psalms that predicted them should be heard and sung every year. The unnecessary requirements and riturals of Lent were done away with, but the focus on our sins and the torment that the Savior went through because of our sins never changed.
The Disciples’ Focus During the Last Week of Jesus’ Life
Jesus wanted his disciples to focus on their sins and his sufferings even before the season of Lent came into existence. Less than a week before his death Jesus pulled them aside and pointed his chosen followers to what we have been celebrating these past few weeks. Unfortunately, the disciples disregarded what he said because their minds were on other things. Listen to what Jesus wanted them to concentrate on and what the disciples got distracted by.
Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Historical Focus of the Season of Lent
For well over 1700 years Christians across the world have celebrated the season that we are in the middle of right now: the season of Lent. Our English word “lent” doesn’t mean anything special - it comes from a word that refers to the “lengthening” of days - but the focus of Lent has always been something special. From very early on, even before the Council of Nicaea met in 325 AD, believers regularly took part in a 40 day fast each year that lead up to the festival of Easter. The Sundays during this time period weren’t counted in the 40 days because each Sunday was supposed to be a “little Easter,” and so 40 days before Easter fell on what we now call “Ash Wednesday.” Now the believers back then wouldn’t completely deprive themselves of food during that time, of course, but their meals and their gatherings were simplified; and their worship took on a somber tone as well because their focus was on the sufferings and death of their Savior in comparison to the sinfulness of mankind. It was a solemn time of year, a quiet preparation for the great resurrection celebration to come after those 40 days were over.
Even during the time of the Reformation of the 1500s, when worship life was reconstructed for the common people and the harmful traditions and ceremonies that had crept into the church were thrown out, the season of Lent was still retained because the believers of that time thought it very important that the gospel stories about the sufferings and death of Christ as well as the hymns that were written about them and the psalms that predicted them should be heard and sung every year. The unnecessary requirements and riturals of Lent were done away with, but the focus on our sins and the torment that the Savior went through because of our sins never changed.
The Disciples’ Focus During the Last Week of Jesus’ Life
Jesus wanted his disciples to focus on their sins and his sufferings even before the season of Lent came into existence. Less than a week before his death Jesus pulled them aside and pointed his chosen followers to what we have been celebrating these past few weeks. Unfortunately, the disciples disregarded what he said because their minds were on other things. Listen to what Jesus wanted them to concentrate on and what the disciples got distracted by.
Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus predicted his suffering, death, and resurrection in the clearest of terms; but the disciples were more concerned with what spot they would get beside him in heaven! Jesus wanted them to remember he would offer up his life up as a ransom for all people; but the disciples were wondering about what great rewards they could get in Paradise! They were missing the point. They were forgetting what really mattered. They undoubtedly heard the words that Jesus was saying, but they were focused on other things.
Our Focus During This Time of Year
What has been your focus during this season of Lent? Have you been focusing on the important things or have you been distracted by everything else? Spring is here, after all! And this time of year affords plenty of outdoor opportunities to distract you from Christ’s sufferings and death! There’s sun to soak up and exercise to do and gardens to begin and trips to plan; last month there was St. Patrick’s Day and a Japanese Tsunami; there are still lingering questions about the economy, complaints about the government, the regular bills to pay, family problems, health issues, and a new church building project in the works. And so, when it comes right down to it, has this season of Lent been any different than any other month? Has your focus been narrowed on the cross this last month or has it gone by unnoticed? Has your mind been in tune with what your Savior did or is that old familiar story so old and so familiar that it’s really nothing special?
Focus! This is not the time of year to get distracted! This is not the season to lose concentration on what is happening in the worship life of your congregation! Focus! Jesus is suffering here! Jesus is dying here! Jesus is sacrificing himself for your sins right in front of your eyes through the pages of Scripture! And it’s not just a Sunday morning thing or a Wednesday night hiatus. It’s not something that should drop out of your consciousness when you close your hymnal after the final song is sung this morning. This is your salvation! It should ride home with you and go to work with you and make the trip with you to see your friends and family members. The subject of Lent should be intertwined with everything you do or say or think. Focus! Especially during this time of year! Especially during Lent!
Jesus’ Focus on Our Salvation
Focus on what Jesus focused on. While he was traveling up to Jerusalem with his disciples he understood what was coming. He even predicted it! He knew what kind of pain was imminent. He fully realized what was about to happen. And he was not going to be distracted. And so when the mother of James and John asked him a ridiculous question about her two sons sitting at his right hand and his left hand in the kingdom of heaven, he brought their focus back to the “cup” of suffering that he was about to drink. And when the rest of the disciples caught wind of James’ and John’s arrogant request, Jesus once again pointed them to the ransom price of his own blood. Jesus was steering his disciples away from themselves and back to their Savior because he didn’t want them distracted either. He was just days away from going to the cross, after all! He was on the brink of facing the worst torture anyone has ever experienced on this earth! And he wanted to make sure his followers were ready for what was to come.
When his sufferings did arrive, though, his disciples weren’t ready. They wavered; they hesitated; they ran away. But Jesus didn’t. He didn’t waver or hesitate. his godly love overcame his human fear. Our Lord did not lose concentration; he resolutely set out for his death and never looked back. Because there was nothing more important to the Lord than winning our salvation. There was nothing more important to the Lord than taking our place. There was nothing more important to the Lord than making sure we would have something to celebrate during the season of Lent. And nothing was going to stop him from carrying it out.
Our Focus for the Rest of Our Lives
I guess it shouldn’t surprise us that the early Christian church thought it a good idea to set aside a specific time to worship the Lord for what he did before Easter Sunday. And not only for a one-day festival, but for a 40 day fasting season! Of course, I would imagine that very few of you have been “fasting” during the 40 days of Lent like they did back then. And I don’t either. That style of worship has fallen out of favor in our culture - and we certainly aren’t required to do it. And you haven’t been preparing others for their baptisms during these last few weeks either, have you? In the early days of the Christian church this time period of Lent was also used to instruct those who wanted to be baptized so that they could be welcomed into God’s family by the water and the Word on Easter Sunday. And it would surprise me if you consciously connected the 40 days of Lent each year with some of the famous “40 day” stories of Scripture. But many Christians in those ancient times considered the 40 days of Lent as a remembrance of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by the devil, Moses’ 40 days on Mt. Sinai, and Elijah’s trip to Mt. Horeb that took 40 days to complete. The season of Lent used to be focused not only on the sufferings and death of Christ, but on a deep humility before a holy God, baptism into the name of Christ, and Scripture’s stories concerning the great heroes of faith.
Whether you fast or not, whether you are looking forward to a baptism on Easter Sunday or not, whether you bring to mind the famous “40 day” stories in Scripture or not, I would pray that your focus during this season of Lent is on what is most important. There is really no more important time in the Christian church year than right now. Because there is no other time in which we highlight what Jesus did for our salvation so clearly. There is no other time in which the seriousness of our sins is on display so vividly. There is no other time in which our victory through Jesus’ blood is celebrated with such passion and desire. Focus! Don’t let this season slip by! Don’t let it come to an end before you know what is happening! The joys of Christmas would not matter without what we are focusing on right now. The festival of Easter would not exist without what we are focusing on right now. And so enjoy it! Drink it in! And revel in the realization of how much Jesus had to give up in order to give you everything.
If you have missed out on the season of Lent so far this year, if your focus has not quite been where it should be because you have been distracted by the craziness of this life, it’s not too late. We have only had four midweek Lent services so far. And so we have two left before “Holy Week” arrives - the week preceding Easter that contains those two unique days on which we remember the Lord’s betrayal and his execution: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. That means we have four special midweek worship opportunities, two Sunday morning services, and Easter Sunday itself before the season of Lent officially comes to a close. You also have the chance to work through the Word of God on your own at home. You have the privilege of praying to your crucified Christ and thanking him for what he has done. You have the ability to use your family devotion as yet another way to focus on your Savior and his sufferings. There are plenty of ways in which to appreciate this time of year. And so slow down. Settle down. Take a step back from the craziness. Make the most of this season by diving into his Word about what he has done. And focus your attention on a Savior who has always been focused on you.
Amen.
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” - 2 Thess. 3:5
Our Focus During This Time of Year
What has been your focus during this season of Lent? Have you been focusing on the important things or have you been distracted by everything else? Spring is here, after all! And this time of year affords plenty of outdoor opportunities to distract you from Christ’s sufferings and death! There’s sun to soak up and exercise to do and gardens to begin and trips to plan; last month there was St. Patrick’s Day and a Japanese Tsunami; there are still lingering questions about the economy, complaints about the government, the regular bills to pay, family problems, health issues, and a new church building project in the works. And so, when it comes right down to it, has this season of Lent been any different than any other month? Has your focus been narrowed on the cross this last month or has it gone by unnoticed? Has your mind been in tune with what your Savior did or is that old familiar story so old and so familiar that it’s really nothing special?
Focus! This is not the time of year to get distracted! This is not the season to lose concentration on what is happening in the worship life of your congregation! Focus! Jesus is suffering here! Jesus is dying here! Jesus is sacrificing himself for your sins right in front of your eyes through the pages of Scripture! And it’s not just a Sunday morning thing or a Wednesday night hiatus. It’s not something that should drop out of your consciousness when you close your hymnal after the final song is sung this morning. This is your salvation! It should ride home with you and go to work with you and make the trip with you to see your friends and family members. The subject of Lent should be intertwined with everything you do or say or think. Focus! Especially during this time of year! Especially during Lent!
Jesus’ Focus on Our Salvation
Focus on what Jesus focused on. While he was traveling up to Jerusalem with his disciples he understood what was coming. He even predicted it! He knew what kind of pain was imminent. He fully realized what was about to happen. And he was not going to be distracted. And so when the mother of James and John asked him a ridiculous question about her two sons sitting at his right hand and his left hand in the kingdom of heaven, he brought their focus back to the “cup” of suffering that he was about to drink. And when the rest of the disciples caught wind of James’ and John’s arrogant request, Jesus once again pointed them to the ransom price of his own blood. Jesus was steering his disciples away from themselves and back to their Savior because he didn’t want them distracted either. He was just days away from going to the cross, after all! He was on the brink of facing the worst torture anyone has ever experienced on this earth! And he wanted to make sure his followers were ready for what was to come.
When his sufferings did arrive, though, his disciples weren’t ready. They wavered; they hesitated; they ran away. But Jesus didn’t. He didn’t waver or hesitate. his godly love overcame his human fear. Our Lord did not lose concentration; he resolutely set out for his death and never looked back. Because there was nothing more important to the Lord than winning our salvation. There was nothing more important to the Lord than taking our place. There was nothing more important to the Lord than making sure we would have something to celebrate during the season of Lent. And nothing was going to stop him from carrying it out.
Our Focus for the Rest of Our Lives
I guess it shouldn’t surprise us that the early Christian church thought it a good idea to set aside a specific time to worship the Lord for what he did before Easter Sunday. And not only for a one-day festival, but for a 40 day fasting season! Of course, I would imagine that very few of you have been “fasting” during the 40 days of Lent like they did back then. And I don’t either. That style of worship has fallen out of favor in our culture - and we certainly aren’t required to do it. And you haven’t been preparing others for their baptisms during these last few weeks either, have you? In the early days of the Christian church this time period of Lent was also used to instruct those who wanted to be baptized so that they could be welcomed into God’s family by the water and the Word on Easter Sunday. And it would surprise me if you consciously connected the 40 days of Lent each year with some of the famous “40 day” stories of Scripture. But many Christians in those ancient times considered the 40 days of Lent as a remembrance of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by the devil, Moses’ 40 days on Mt. Sinai, and Elijah’s trip to Mt. Horeb that took 40 days to complete. The season of Lent used to be focused not only on the sufferings and death of Christ, but on a deep humility before a holy God, baptism into the name of Christ, and Scripture’s stories concerning the great heroes of faith.
Whether you fast or not, whether you are looking forward to a baptism on Easter Sunday or not, whether you bring to mind the famous “40 day” stories in Scripture or not, I would pray that your focus during this season of Lent is on what is most important. There is really no more important time in the Christian church year than right now. Because there is no other time in which we highlight what Jesus did for our salvation so clearly. There is no other time in which the seriousness of our sins is on display so vividly. There is no other time in which our victory through Jesus’ blood is celebrated with such passion and desire. Focus! Don’t let this season slip by! Don’t let it come to an end before you know what is happening! The joys of Christmas would not matter without what we are focusing on right now. The festival of Easter would not exist without what we are focusing on right now. And so enjoy it! Drink it in! And revel in the realization of how much Jesus had to give up in order to give you everything.
If you have missed out on the season of Lent so far this year, if your focus has not quite been where it should be because you have been distracted by the craziness of this life, it’s not too late. We have only had four midweek Lent services so far. And so we have two left before “Holy Week” arrives - the week preceding Easter that contains those two unique days on which we remember the Lord’s betrayal and his execution: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. That means we have four special midweek worship opportunities, two Sunday morning services, and Easter Sunday itself before the season of Lent officially comes to a close. You also have the chance to work through the Word of God on your own at home. You have the privilege of praying to your crucified Christ and thanking him for what he has done. You have the ability to use your family devotion as yet another way to focus on your Savior and his sufferings. There are plenty of ways in which to appreciate this time of year. And so slow down. Settle down. Take a step back from the craziness. Make the most of this season by diving into his Word about what he has done. And focus your attention on a Savior who has always been focused on you.
Amen.
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” - 2 Thess. 3:5
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